Nevada County picayune., 1887-02-16

[ d DCsCli' " hSi . -theNh C' eA'S room the walters were engaged in carrying to the pantry the rem nants of the spread At certain moment I found my yselt entirely alone and near the buffet upon which had been placed the dish of fruit. There was not second to lose. l approached the basket, and. quick as lightning, rolled two of the peaches into the crown of my hat, adroitly covering them with my hand.
 Carefully holding my hat against my breast l returned to the ball. room, my intention being to cross it quietly and slip away, like the English, and when once outside to run every step of the way home.
 "It was not AS easy to do thls as anticipated, for they were be. ginning the cotillon, and all around the grand salon there was double row of black coats and wall flow CTS, surrounding third row form ed by the chairs of the dancers; and in the middle of this third ring d great empty space in which the couples of the cotillon would waltz. Cautiously insinuating my self between the groups l glided around the chairs with the noise less hexibility of the serpent dreading at every step that some unwary elbow would strike the bat and dislodge the spells. l could distinctly feel the tossing about of the peaches as l walked along.
 "At last. after deal of trouble and innumerable scares, entered the space just opposite the Coor of entrance as they were forming the "coquet figure" A lady was in the centre of the ring, the gen. tlemen clustering in a circle around her. AS you know, when the cav alier presents himself with whom she wishes to waltz, she places a hat which she holds in her hands upon his head and away they go.
 .'The lady in the centre of room was Mile. Tabaraud, the daughter of my chiet. I had scarcely taken a step across the floor when she saw me and came running toward me.
 "'You are just in the nick of time. Mir. Herbelot,' said she: quick, give me your hat.' And before I could escape or stammer a protest the hat was whisked from my hand and those internal first of the seasons spinning over the floor. Imagine the tableau! The dancers Uttered, the Director frowned. the wall-howers eXclaim- ed. and Mile Tarbarand was trans fixed. Red as a beet, and with my teeth chattering with moral chill, stood like a fool, the exposure ot all eyes.
 'Talc back your hat, Mir. Her belot,' said the lady at last, in a voice choked with emotion, and pick up your peaches,'
 "At this the people no longer able to restrain themselves, burst into fits of laughter. Even the domestics joined in the merriment, Haggard and stammering with confusion I hastily fled from the salon.
 "The next day the story was all over town, and when l entered the office I was greeted with shouts ol Pick up yonr peaches, M Herbe lot; take back your hatn l. was unbearable, and it was the same thing in the street. Everywhere I went l was pointed at and whis pered about and followed with the mocking chorus.
 .'The town was untenable. Eight days from that fatal night lresigned from the office and entered upon course of farming as assistant to my wife's uncle, who owned q place in the enyirOns Ofmy native town. With better liking for the calling of farmer than l had ever had for official documents, it was but a little while before l had be. come creditable agricnlturist In fact, the land prospered so well in my hands that the old gentle man left it to us in his will. Since then l have constantly enlarged my enl erprises until now l am al the satisfactory stage in which you see me"
 By this time we had reached the farm of Chauteraine Entering by the orchard way we passed drought row after row of fruit trees, heavy with apples, pears and quinces. At the extremity oI the inclosnre a hiily slope rolled 10 the waters edge, covered with a network of vines and masses ol ripening groves. The chatter oI machinery to the left indicated the granary. To the right was the farm house, the white walls cheerfully shining through an es palier of loaded peach trees.
 "The most of my attention Is devoted to beaches, as you see